Gerard always suffered from frail health. In fact, on that account he was refused entrance into three monasteries. Gerard wanted to dedicate his life to God. After he met Redemptorist missionaries he followed them until the superior relented and sent him to one of the Redemptorist monasteries with the note, "I am sending you a useless brother." However, Gerard turned out to be anything but useless. He gave himself to God completely and to the service of his brothers in the ordinary duties of each day. He served as doorkeeper of the monastery and never turned anyone away. Soon up to 200 people a day would line up for food. He became the spiritual director for monasteries of nuns, and he had the charismatic gift of healing, especially for expectant mothers and their unborn children. On one occasion he interceded for a woman facing serious complications in childbirth; the crisis passed and she gave birth to a healthy child. Many women received graces for themselves and their children through Gerard's prayers. After his death at 29, even more miracles for mothers were reported and he became known as the patron saint of mothers. He is also often invoked by couples experiencing infertility.